Agent



March 10, 1964 M. B. STULL 3,124,280

DISPENSING CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed May 1, 1961 IN VEN TOR.

Morton, B Ska HGENT United States Patent ()fiice 3,124,280 Patented Mar.10, 1964 3,124,2a DISPENSING CAP CQNSTRUCTIQN Morton l3. Stall, EitullEngraving Co, 221223 litanta Ave, Garfield, NJ Filed May 1, 1961, Ser.No. 106,756 8 Claims. (Cl. 222F541) This invention relates to dispensingcap constructions which are adapted to be used with small containerssuch as bottles, vials and the like, and more particularly to reclosablecap constructions of this type, which are fabricated so as to be in aninitially sealed state and to be readily broken or cut open by the user.

The invention concerns improvements in the cap construction illustratedand described in my Patent Number 2,930,063 dated March 29, 1960 andentitled Dispensing Cap for Containers. In this patented capconstruction there is provided a cap body having a projecting tubularnozzle portion, and having a combined sealing and closure plug extendingbeyond and molded as an integral part of the nozzle or orifice portion,said plug being adapted to be slit through as by a sharp knife, razor orthe like, to expose a discharge orifice which is then subsequentlyreclosed by application of the reduced tip or opposite end of thesevered plug.

in the patented cap construction the cutting through of the sealingmeans to sever the plug is intended to be done at the same locationwhere the breakage or rupture occurs when the plug is removed by bendingand breaking it. While such arrangement was satisfactory in general, itsometimes resulted in a rough broken edge which was somewhat deformed bythe bending and breaking process, tending to defeat a clean appearanceand under certain conditions to defeat a tight reclosure. The line ofrupture was at all times not sharply defined whereby results might beunpredictable if a user did not properly carry out the bending andbreaking procedure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improveddispensing cap construction of the general patented type outlined above,wherein the opening of the cap by bending and breaking off the tipportion is facilitated, being not only made easier but also resulting ina cleaner rupture edge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved capconstnuction of the type set forth above, wherein the user has a choiceof either cutting through or else breaking off the sealing member inorder to open the cap, and wherein either procedure results at all timesin a relatively clean edge and satisfactory discharge orifice, and in atight and effective reclosing of the opened 1 k further object of theinvention is to provide an improved combination cap constructionopenable by either breaking or cutting, which has all of the advantagesmentioned above, including facilitating the breaking of the frangiblewall, the obtaining of a clean structural edge, and the effectivereclosing of the cap.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved capconstruction as above outlined, wherein a reinforcement action providedby a dripless nozzle tip located at the discharge OTi fiC is utilized tofacilitate the breaking open of the cap, while at the same time the tipenables a more saitsfactory dispensing of the fluid contents to be had.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel capconstruction wherein different-size discharge orifices are exposed,depending on whether the opening is done by the bending or breakingprocedure or else by the outting through procedure, and wherein thesevered piece has different-size plug portions which are respectivelyusable to restopper the container, for either of the above openingprocedures.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of animproved cap construction in accordance with the foregoing, wherein thesize of the discharge orifice or passage may be accurately determinedand held, regardless of the :opening procedure and regardless of thesize of the mouth which is exposed at the time of opening.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of animproved cap construction which may be opened either by a bending andbreaking or else by a cutting-through operation, wherein inadvertentopening of the cap under adverse conditions of use such as roughhandling or the like is minimized while at the same time thebending-breaking procedure is not made diflicult.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings, which illustrate two different embodiments of theinvention:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a cap construction shown on anenlarged scale, with portions broken away and illustrated in section toreveal interior details. This cap construction is intended to be openedespecially by bending the tip or top portion to eifect a break-oil atthe base, without the use of a cuting tool such as a scissors, blade orthe like.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cap construction of FIG. 1, also shownon an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a cap construction illustratinganother embodiment of the invention, portions being broken away andshown in section to reveal the interior. This figure is also on anenlarged scale, and sets forth a cap construction of the type which maybe opened by either cutting through or else breaking off a sealingportion or cork-like tip. The cap construction includes a plug-like tiphaving a stepped extremity with a small diameter receivable in a smallbore of the cap body and a larger portion adjacent the small tip, whichmay be received in a large bore of the body, depending on whether theplug is cut through or bent andbroken off.

Considering first H68. 1 and 2, the dispensing cap construction showntherein comprises a cap body indicated generally by the numeral 10,having means in the form of internal screw threads 12 by which it may beattached to the mouth of a container. The cap construction may beadvantageously molded of a resilient plastic substance such aspolyethylene or the like, and it will be understood that, by virtue ofthe yieldable nature of the material, in place of the internal screwthreads 12 other means may be employed to retain the cap body in placeon the container, as for example yieldable internal detent shoulders orledges and the like. A special type of internal yieldable detentshoulder or head construction adapted for use with a glass bottle typecontainer, is illustrated and described in my Patent Number 2,990,076,issued June 27, 1961, entitled Closure Cap and Container NeckConstruction.

The particular type of retention or detent means provided in the capbody 10 does not concern the present invention, and accordingly furtherdetails of the same are not given herein.

In accordance with the present invention, in conjunction with the capbody 10 of resilient plastic substance there is provided a novel andimproved sealing and dispensing means comprising a projecting tubularmember 14 carried by the cap body, and further comprising an integralcombined sealing and stopper portion 16 in the form of a serrated plugwhich closes over an orifice of the dispensing member 14 and which maybe readily bent and broken oii to expose the said orifice, all inconjunction with a novel dripless pouring lip 18 which provides animportant reinforcement function thereby to facilitate the breakingoperation of the plug 16.

The dispensing member 14 is shown, in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, as being molded to con- "a stitute an integral part of thecap body 10, such member having a truncated conical shape, with inwardlytapered conical walls 20 terminating at the annular dripless nozzle tip18 which surrounds an outlet orifice 22 and which is spaced from the capbody portion 10 an appreciable distance.

The tubular dispensing member 14 has a large tapered bore 24 and also asmaller, generally cylindrical bore 26 which connects with the largetapered bore 24 by means of an intermediate conical connecting channel23, there being further provided a small tapered internal shoulder orbead 30 between the channel 28 and the small cylindrical bore 26, thepurpose of which will be later brought out.

As shown, the large tapered bore 24 communicates with the interior space32 of the cap body 1%) whereby the contents of the container may bedispensed or discharged by passing through the large bore 24, theconnecting channel 28 and the small cylindrical bore 26 after the capconstruction has been opened, as will be also explained below.

By the present invention there is provided between the combined sealingand stopper portion or plug 16 on the one hand and the dispensing member14 on the other hand an annular zone 34 characterized by thin andintentionally frangible walls, this zone being located at the junctureof the plug and orifice (also seen to be in the base of the plug 16).The locating at the zone 34 of thin, frangible walls (adjacent thedripless nozzle tip 18) is of importance, and constitutes a feature ofthe invention in that the reinforcing effect of the dripless nozzle tip18 at this point limits the yieldability of the end of the orificemember 14 and provides a desirable stiffness and rigidity thereto, bywhich breaking off of the plug 16 at the zone 34 is facilitated due tosuch rigidity enabling a fracture of the thin walls to be more readilyeffected.

In conjunction with the reinforcing effect of the dripless nozzle tip 18there is also provided in accordance with the invention, deep serrationsor grooves 36 extending longitudinally in the outer walls of the plug16, which results in a plurality of longitudinally extending stiffeningribs 38. Such serrations and ribs have a stiffening effect on the plug16, without requiring massive wall thicknesses minimizing any flexing ofthe same at the time that the plug is grasped for the purpose of bendingand breaking it off from the orifice member 14. Thus, by virtue of thestiffening or reinforcing action of the dripless nozzle tip 13 inconjunction with the stiffening function of the ribs 38 and the bettergrip which such ribs provide when the plug 16 is being grasped, theopening procedure which depends upon fracture of the thinwalled zone 34occurs more readily, and without noticeable difficulty.

Playing an important part in facilitating the break-off of the plug atthe base thereof, is the outer or upper side surface of the driplessnozzle tip 18. It is seen that such upper surface is of dishedformation, being conical in nature whereby a sharp corner 42 is formedat the juncture of the plug 16 and the lip 18. Such dished configurationof the dripless nozzle tip tends to resist further any raising movementof a portion of the orifice member 14 at one side of the plug 16 as thelatter is being bent for the purpose of breaking it off. It will beunderstood that such portion at one side of the plug is on the sidelocated away from the direction of bending, and in consequence of therestriction of movement of the orifice member at this point a fracturewill more readily occur in response to such bending.

It is pointed out that where an area of intentional weakness isprovided, as for example the thin-walled, frangible zone 34, anystrengthening of other portions of the as semblage will accentuate theeffect of the weakness of the thin walls, thereby resulting in an easierfracture operation.

Upon the plug 16 being broken off in the above manner, the smalldiameter bore 26 which comprises the orifice 22 will be exposed, therebyto enable the contents of the container to be discharged therethrough.

When it is desired to reclose the container after breaking off the plug16, it is merely necessary to insert the stopper or tip portion 46 ofthe plug in the orifice and bore 22, 26, whereby the plug constitutes aconveniently removable stopper.

The provision of the internal tapering shoulder or head 30 is ofadvantage in that such bead may serve several functions. During theclosing of the cap construction, the head is engaged by the plug tip 46,to render the reclosing of the cap construction more effective byproviding a pressure seal. Further, during discharge or dispensing ofthe contents of the container, the head 39 provides a restriction orconstriction of the discharge orifice or bore, and limits the flow ofsubstance to a desired rate.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a novel moldedresilient cap construction wherein there is combined an orifice ordispensing member, a combined integral sealing and stopper portioncarried by the orifice member, a zone of thin and intentionallyfrangible walls at the juncture of the orifice member and stopperportion together with a reinforcing dripless nozzle tip adjacent suchjuncture and serrations or hand grip means on the stopper portion, allto the end that the breaking off of such portion is facilitated when itis desired to unseal and open the cap construction for discharge of thecontainer contents. The cap construction is seen to be relativelysimple, and may be readily molded of polyethylene or plastic substanceof similar formulation having the desired degree of resilience.

Prior to opening of the cap construction the contents of the containerwill be securely retained, and the container will remain sealed eventhough subjected to rough handling and other adverse conditions of use,inasmuch as the base portions of the serrations or ribs 38, where theyjoin the dripless nozzle tip 18, provide a strengthening effect which issufficient to prevent accidental breaking off of the plug means while atthe same time such strengthening does not defeat the ready tearing ofthe frangible wall zone 34 and breaking off of the tip 16.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. This embodimentutilizes the novel break-off arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2, but furtherprovides a plug organization by which the cap construction may be openedthrough the use of a cutting tool such as a scissors or the like, in theevent that it is not desired to employ the break-01f type opening. Whenthe cutting tool is used, the discharge orifice is of smaller size thanwhen the plug is removed by bending and breaking, although this is not alimiting characteristic, since both types of orifices may be made of thesame size with equal ease, or the orifice which is exposed when the tipis broken off may be a controlling factor such that severance of the tipby a cutting tool would not alter the effective flow or discharge of thecontainer contents.

In FIG. 3 the cap body portion is indicated by the numeral 50, such bodyhaving the usual spiral screw threads 52 as shown. Projecting upwardfrom the center of the cap body 50 is a projecting tubular orificemember 54 and also a combined serrated sealing and stopper portion 58comprising a plug which constitutes an extension of the orifice member54 as will be readily understood.

By the present invention there is provided in the orifice member 54 andplug 58 a stepped bore 60, disposed with a small diameter portion 62located in the plug 58 and a large diameter portion 64 located in theorifice member 54. The invention further provides an annular zone 66characterized by thin and intentionally frangible Walls, located at thejuncture of the plug 58 and the orifice member 54 whereby a forciblebending of the plug 53 efiects fracture of said thin walls to expose thelarge diameter bore 64.

The plug 58, in the construction shown in FIG. 3, is severable by acutting instrument such as a knife, scissors or the like along thebroken line 68 whereby the cut passes through the small diameter bore 62and exposes the same so that it may constitute an orifice.

The plug 58, at a location beyond the serrated handle portion 76 thereofhas a stepped extremity comprising a small tip 72 and a larger tipportion 74 adjacent the small tip 72, the latter being receivable in thesmall diameter orifice 62 so as to constitute a stopper therefor. Thelarge diameter portion 74 of the plug is receivable in the largediameter bore portion 64 to constitute a stopper, this depending uponwhether the stopper plug 58 is removed by cutting it through along theline 63 or instead is removed by bending it to break the frangible walls66.

In the first instance, the exposed orifice comprises the srn 11 diameterbore portion 62, which will receive the small diameter tip 72. In thecase where the plug 58 is broken off by bending it, the large diameterorifice 64 will be exposed, and will accommodate the large diameter tipportion 74 of the plug 58. The user may thus select between fast andslow rates of dispensing as efiected by the large or small orifice.

As with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, an internal annular shoulder orbead 78 is provided, which may be utilized for the purpose ofrestricting the flow of the container contents from the orifice 64 andwhich is engag able with the large diameter tip portion 74 so as toeffect a tight seal of the container when the same is not in use.

It will be understood that the head 78 may have different sizes ordiameters whereby it may constrict to a greater or lesser extent thelarge diameter orifice or lower portion 64, thereby to limit the flow asdesired. For example, the sm-aller or internal diameter of the bead '78may be the same as the diameter of the small bore portion 62, or it maybe made even smaller than such bore portion or else larger as shown inthe figure.

Thus it will now be understood by considering FIG. 3 that I haveprovided a novel and improved cap construction wherein the combinedsealer and stopper plug may be easily and quickly removed either by theuse of a cutting instrument such as a scissors, sharp knife, razor orthe like, or else without the use of tools by merely bending the plug soas to break it from the dispensing member 54 at the base of the plug. Ineither circumstance the stepped extremity of the stopper plug may besubsequently used to close the open cap construction, regardless ofwhether there is exposed the small diameter bore 62 as when the plug isremoved by a cutting instrument, or the large diameter bore 64 as whenthe plug is removed by bonding and breaking it ofi.

The cap construction shown is relatively simple, and fool-proof inoperation. It resists accidental opening or fracture to a marked degree,by virtue of the provision of the longitudinally extending ribs 71located on the exterior of the plug handle portion 70. As with theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the dished or conical upper surface 86 ofthe dripless nozzle tip 82 provided at the juncture of the stopper plug58 and dispensing member 54 reinforces the latter at the break-off zone,thereby to facilitate the break-off operation, as already explained inconnection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A dispensing cap construction comprising a cap body of resilientplastic substance, said body having means for attaching it to acontainer mouth; a tubular, projecting dis pensing member carried by thecap body, said member having at a location spaced from the body anannular outward and radially extending dripless nozzle tip surroundingan outlet orifice, said tip comprising a pronounced outward flangeeffecting a substantial reinforcement of the walls of the member at saidorifice, said member further including an integral combined sealing andstopper portion comprising a deeply grooved plug which closes over thesaid orifice and said member having thin and intentionally frangiblewalls at the juncture of the plug and orifice whereby a forcible bendingof the plug effects fracture of said walls and severance of the plug,thereby to expose the orifice, said plug including at its end a stopperportion which is adapted to be press-fitted in the orifice to close thesame, the reinforcement effected by the said flange of the dripless tipimparting a stability to the dispensing member at the orifice and theportions of the plug between the grooves stifiening the same whileavoiding excessive wall thickness, whereby the breaking-off of the plugis facilitated.

2. A cap construction as in claim 1, in which the dispensing member hasan internal annular bead located adjacent the pouring lip, said beadconstituting a constriction in the bore of the member and limiting theflow of substance from the container to a predetermined value.

3. A cap construction as in claim 2, in which the intern-a1 annular beadhas sloping walls and is disposed for engagement by the stopper portionof the plug when the latter is severed and inserted in the dispensingmember, thereby to provide a pressure seal.

4. A dispensing cap construction arranged to be opened by either cuttingthrough or breaking-off a sealing portion, comprising a cap body adaptedto be secured to a container, said body having a projecting tubularorifice member and a combined sealing and stopper portion comprising aplug which constitutes an extension of the orifice member, said memberand plug having a stepped bore disposed with a small diameter located inthe plug and a large diameter in the member, there being thin andintentionally frangible walls at the juncture of the plug and memberwhereby a forcible bending of the plug elfects fracture of said walls toexpose the large diameter bore, said plug alternatively being severableby a cutting instrument at the small diameter bore to expose the sameand having a stepped extremity with a small tip receivable in the smallbore and a larger portion adjacent the small tip and receivable in thelarge bore, depending on whether the plug is cut through or bent andbroken off, the exposing of the large diameter bore providing for a fastdischarge rate and the exposing of the small diameter bore providing fora slow discharge rate.

5. A cap construction as in claim 4, in which the large diameter borehas a constricting annular internal bead to limit flow of liquidtherethrough.

6. A c-ap construction as in claim 5, in which the large plug portion isengageable with the head when inserted in the large diameter bore, toeffect a seal.

7. A cap construction as in claim 4, in which the stepped extremity ofthe plug has tapered portions at the end of the small tip and betweenthe small tip and the said larger portion to facilitate entry of thesein the respective bores.

'8. A cap construction as in claim 4, in which the orifice member has apronounced annular outward and radially extending, dripless nozzle tipadjacent the stopper portion, said lip substantially reinforcing themember close to the thin frangible walls to impart stability whereby thebreaking-off of the plug is facilitated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 41,372Gay Jan. 26, 1864 1,080,747 Buckley Dec. 9, 1913 2,571,542 Collins Oct.16, 1951 2,601,040 Livingstone June 17, 1952 2,814,420 Elder et al Nov.26, 1957 2,827,194 Matton Mar. 18, 1958 2,930,063 Stull Mar. 29, 196 0

1. A DISPENSING CAP CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A CAP BODY OF RESILIENTPLASTIC SUBSTANCE, SAID BODY HAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHING IT TO ACONTAINER MOUTH; A TUBULAR, PROJECTING DISPENSING MEMBER CARRIED BY THECAP BODY, SAID MEMBER HAVING AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM THE BODY ANANNULAR OUTWARD AND RADIALLY EXTENDING DRIPLESS NOZZLE TIP SURROUNDINGAN OUTLET ORIFICE, SAID TIP COMPRISING A PRONOUNCED OUTWARD FLANGEEFFECTING A SUBSTANTIAL REINFORCEMENT OF THE WALLS OF THE MEMBER AT SAIDORIFICE, SID MEMBER FURTHER INCLUDING AN INTEGRAL COMBINED SEALING ANDSTOPPER PORTION COMPRISING A DEEPLY GROOVED PLUG WHICH CLOSES OVER THESAID ORIFICE AND SAID MEMBER HAVING THIN AND INTENTIONALLY FRANGIBLEWALLS AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE PLUG AND ORIFICE WHEREBY A FORCIBLE BENDINGOF THE PLUG EFFECTS FRACTURE OF SAID WALLS AND SEVERANCE OF THE PLUG,THEREBY TO EXPOSE THE ORIFICE, SAID PLUG INCLUDING AT ITS END A STOPPERPORTION WHICH ID ADAPTED TO BE PRESS-FITTED IN THE ORIFICE TO CLOSE THESAME, THE REINFORCEMENT EFFECTED BY THE SAID FLANGE OF THE DRIPLESS TIPIMPARTING A STABILITY TO THE DISPENSING MEMBER AT THE ORIFICE AND THEPORTIONS OF THE PLUG BETWEEN THE GROOVES STIFFENING THE SAME WHILEAVOIDING EXCESSIVE WALL THICKNESS, WHEREBY THE BREAKING-OFF OF THE PLUGIS FACILITATED.